Girlawhirl firmly believes in the “if you bring one in, take one out” method of closet control. But it's a little harder to be so black and white when it comes to her shoe collection. Each pair is special in its own way. She realized it was time to do something though when a shoe she hadn't seen in two years tumbled down on her head from a high shelf. It was time to divide and conquer. But when she looked at her “goodbye” pile, she knew the shoes didn't deserve a trip to the dumpster. Good thing a shoe-loving Super Pal had just the answer to make sure Girlawhirl's shoes end up in the hands – and on the feet – of people who could really use them…
Following a similar closet crisis, Girlawhirl's Super Pal found an organization that collects new and used shoes and redistributes them to people in need. It started as an effort by a loose affiliation of churches, ministries and individuals to collect shoes from companies and people following the December 2004 Asian tsunami. After the success of the program in Asia, the group continued its work in the Gulf region sending shoes to victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita under the name Katrinashoes.org.
The success of those relief efforts – with donations nearing the one million mark from the likes of shoe companies, retailers, churches and schools – led to the permanent Soles4Souls™ organization. It's the perfect place to ensure all of Girlawhirl's old favorite friends find new lives on the feet of people who can really use them, instead of ending up in the trash.
To make Girlawhirl's shipment to Soles4Souls worth her while, she threw a Super Pal shoe-extravaganza! Each Super Pal brought over any shoes they didn't need anymore, kicked in $1 for shipping – a Soles4Souls suggestion – and enjoyed some delicious food, drinks and good company as they packed away their old shoes, laughing about where each pair had taken them, and wondering where the shoes' new journeys would lead. By the end of their mini-shoe drive the ladies had gathered so many pairs they had to find a bigger box to send them off in.
Click here to learn more about Soles4Souls and how to donate shoes.